A 61-year-old man has been charged by Northern Territory police in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a 27-year-old Indigenous woman in Darwin.
The incident occurred in the early hours of December 27 on Bagot Road in Ludmilla, where the woman was struck by a vehicle on the six-lane roadway. A passerby discovered her shortly afterwards, but she succumbed to her injuries before emergency services could arrive.
Police treated the case as a hit-and-run, alleging the driver failed to stop, provide assistance, or report the collision. The crash took place on a poorly lit section of Bagot Road, where street lighting had been out of service after a light pole was damaged in an earlier accident and not repaired.
Following a week-long investigation, the man was arrested on Friday and charged with one count of hit-and-run causing death.
The NT Police Force stated that the arrest followed an extensive probe led by the Major Crash Investigation Unit, involving CCTV footage review, crime scene analysis, forensic examinations, and witness statements.
Senior Constable Craig Tregea emphasised the legal obligations of drivers involved in collisions.
“Members of the public involved in a traffic crash are required by law to stop, provide assistance where possible, and notify police,” he said. “Failing to do so can result in serious legal consequences, especially when someone is injured or killed.”
